One of the most famous dance scenes in world cinema is the sequence from Pulp Fiction. In it, John Travolta and Uma Thurman’s characters move rhythmically on the dance floor, delivering a textbook twist. As it turns out, the film’s creator, Quentin Tarantino, approached the filming of this scene with particular intention. For the choreography, he drew inspiration from a popular animated film.
Which cartoon inspired the dance in Pulp Fiction
Tarantino explained that the characters were meant to move very differently from each other. He wanted John Travolta’s character to appear grounded and rough, while Uma Thurman’s Mia would embody elegance. The grace he was looking for, he found in the animated film The Aristocats.
"The reference in my head is Zsa Zsa Gabor the cat. There’s a scene in the cartoon where the cats are dancing, and I really liked it," the director admitted.
Filming the dance scene in Pulp Fiction
John Travolta had no difficulty carrying out the director’s vision. The actor had a background as a professional dancer and had often showcased his skills on screen — just think of Grease or Saturday Night Fever.
Moreover, it was Travolta himself who added key elements to the dance, arguing that a simple twist would be boring for the audience. That’s how the quirky, playful movements ended up in the scene.
Thurman, on the other hand, struggled with the choreography. She was so self-conscious about not dancing as well as Travolta that the shoot dragged on for a lengthy 13 hours. What helped her eventually was the director’s advice: she should dance as if no one was watching — just for herself. That’s what Mia would have done; it was true to the character.
